stjohndivine.org winter at the cathedral · 2019-01-31 · stjohndivine.org winter 2018 what’s...

stjohndivine.org Winter 2018

WHAT’S INSIDE

Shared Values

A s the calendar turns from one year to another, we are again asked to look back at our accomplishments over the past year and our goals for the next. The task can be both daunting—there is so much to be done—and uplifting—look how far we have come. Here at the Cathedral, we’re greeting these

New Year tasks with familiarity after spending the past year celebrating and acknowledging the 125th anniversary of the laying of the Cathedral’s cornerstone.

We used this anniversary not just to celebrate where we have been, but to explore where we are going. What does it mean to be a Cathedral for the 21st century? What do we want for the Cathedral and what do others need from it? What are the questions that we are best suited to address? How do we take our current programs and strengths and adapt, adjust, and grow into new areas?

Time and time again, we found ourselves coming back to our mission. Those aspirational words—to be a house of prayer for all people and a center of unifying light and leadership—have informed our past, make up our present, and will guide our future, if we let them.

As we installed and instituted our 10th Dean on October 20th, the staff, volunteers, and congregation also participated in a recommitment to Cathedral ministries as a reminder that everything we do here, from Sunday liturgies to education workshops for school children to modern art exhibitions, are all ways in which we serve our mission.

1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street New York, NY 10025 (212) 316-7540 stjohndivine.org

Winter 2018 Volume 15 Number 73

St. Anselm

Dean’s Meditation

Cathedral Christmas

The American Poets Corner

Residencies

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Take A Pause to Consider Families in Need of Sanctuary

Cathedral Community Cares

photo: Ken Yanagisawa

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)

Winter at the Cathedral

2018


In Richard Adams’ novel Watership Down, he tells the story of a warren of rabbits and their adventures and reflections on life. At one point, the rabbits are underground during a fierce winter storm, huddled together seeking warmth in the damp and cold and talking. One rabbit says, “Here we are huddled and cold with little to eat. Such is the fate of us rabbits. Humans are different from rabbits. Humans like winter.” The other rabbit reflects quietly for a moment and then responds, “No, rabbits and humans are alike in their dislike of winter. Humans don't like winter any more than us rabbits. What humans do like is proof against winter.”

Now that is a profound truth that Brother Rabbit expresses. Like rabbits, we huddle together for warmth and community. Like rabbits, we fear the cold of suffering and isolation, the iciness of being cut off from what in life gives security and meaning.

I think of the several thousands of refugees in Central America making their way slowly toward what they are desperate for in their fear and suffering: a life with food, clothing, shelter; a life with the dignity of work and warmth of sanctuary in the U.S. and stability. They must be desperate indeed to risk life and limb in fierce hope of a better life—proof against winter.

In mid-February the Cathedral opens a new exhibition, The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House Without Walls. The notion of offering sanctuary has become a profoundly polarizing reality in

Shared Values(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)

photo: Helena Kubicka de Bragança

recent years. Last year I attended a rally at a church near the Cathedral that had given sanctuary to a woman from Guatemala and her family. It was a bold statement and a timely ministry: providing refuge and safety to those who had no other proof against the wintry persecution.

As winter approaches, there will no doubt be many in this city who will be exposed to a lack of heat, or food, or medicine. For them the proof against winter becomes a cruel joke. Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the little match girl will be retold in the lives of many in this city over the next few months.

In the Hebrew Scripture account of those ill-fated brothers, Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-8), after the murder, God asks Cain where Abel is. Cain plays dumb and gives a disingenuous response: “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” This is the classic question of the limits of our legal responsibility for one another. It is a question that has been asked in every generation, and it is a lively question today. To what extent are we responsible for the safety, welfare, food, warmth, shelter, and health of our brothers and sisters? To what extent are we as a nation responsible for offering safety and refuge to our neighbor, documented or undocumented, alien or citizen? As a community, a city, a nation—are we our brother’s keeper? Must we provide proof against winter for every hungry refugee, every displaced alien, for those too old, too young, too poor, too vulnerable to provide for themselves? Am I my sister’s keeper?

The answer is no, I am not my brother’s keeper, or my sister’s. None of us are responsible for being anyone else’s keeper. But…

As Jesus tells us so clearly, we are not forced to provide anyone proof against winter. The reason, according to Jesus, is because we are not our neighbor’s keeper but rather her/his brother or sister. Jesus places the burden of care for one another not on legal requirements, but on the foundation of love for God. Providing proof against winter for another person is not a legal requirement. It is an act of love. Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Curry, puts it this way: “If it ain’t about love, it ain’t about God.” Providing sanctuary for a family seeking refuge may be illegal according to the law. But in God’s eyes, it is an act of love. Providing food, shelter, and medicine is to act according to God’s will.

Over the fireplace at the Diocesan conference center in Rhode Island is inscribed a quote from The Reverend Canon Tony Parsley, 12th Rector of St Michael’s Church in Bristol:

“Love is the energy of a divine will bent on creating community.” Caring for one another is all about becoming proof against winter for one another.

Dean’s Meditation: Seeing with New Eyes THE RIGHT REVEREND CLIFTON DANIEL III

Our anniversary celebration continued into November, when we were honored to have The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, preach at a special Evensong. The Presiding Bishop has reached new audiences this year with his message of love, one that many Episcopalians and Americans in general have clung to during times when it seems like hate manifests itself in new and horrifying ways every day.

At this year’s Feast of St. Francis and Blessing of the Animals, Dean Daniel invoked the titular saint, who not only championed love of animals and nature but also advocated for the poor and disenfranchised, and implored us, with a similarly simple and memorable message, to “Be bold, be kind.”

These messages of love and kindness are not meant to be revolutionary, but perhaps resonate so deeply because many of us are desperate to hear missives of unity rather than division. We want to be reminded of the shared values to which we aspire—to love our neighbor, welcome the stranger, and respect the common dignity of all creation.

As we commit to these beliefs, we also grapple with their complexity. How do we love our neighbor if our neighbor is causing us harm? How do we welcome the stranger while also enacting necessary boundaries? How do we share our common ground while also celebrating our differences?

Many of these questions reflect the thought that’s gone into the Cathedral’s upcoming exhibition, The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House Without Walls, which opens on February 14 (SEE PAGE 7). The notion of sanctuary has become a profoundly polarizing concept these past two years. Yet the Cathedral has never shied away from addressing difficult topics. This exhibition will be the next in a series of Cathedral-wide initiatives focused

on the intersections between spirituality, contemporary social issues, and human rights and dignity. Past exhibitions in the series—beginning with The Value of Water, through The Value of Food and The Christa Project—have tackled big-picture issues connected to the symbolism and significance of the basic building blocks of human culture: access to clean water, adequate nutrition, and the right to bodily self-determination. With The Value of Sanctuary, our sacred space will be host to numerous perspectives on another essential element of human life: the right to shelter, and beyond that, an exploration of what shelter and sanctuary mean in a world divided by sectarian discord, cultural migration, and ongoing refugee crises.

The questions we’ve asked ourselves and one another as we think about these issues and our place within them don’t have easy answers, and often do not have answers at all. But if we’ve learned anything over the past year, or the past 125 years, it’s that sometimes the answer is not the point—the conversation is. There is value in sharing common concerns even if the answers we find are varied. There is value in hearing multiple perspectives and differing opinions. There is value in coming together through our differences rather than in spite of them.

We invite you to join us in this time of questioning and introspection. As always, there are many ways to share our physical common ground—by attending one of our many services and events over the course of the season or by donating to Cathedral Community Care’s holiday drives. This year, we also invite you to join us in a larger shared community of people resolved to ask, to listen, and to think. And when we decide to act, we resolve to do so with kindness, and with love.

The American Poets Corner: Carl Sandburg

Write your wishes on the door and come in. Stand outside in the pools of the harvest moon. Bring in the handshake of the punpkins. There's a wish for every hazel nut? There's a hope for every corn shock? There's a kiss for every clumsy climbing shadow? Clover and the bumblebees once,high winds and November rain now. Buy shoes for rough weather in November.Buy shirts to sleep outdoors when May comes. Buy mesomething useless to remember you by. Send mea sumach leaf from an Illinois hill. In the faces marching in the fire log flickers,In the fire music of wood singing to winter,Make my face march through the purple and ashes.Make me one of the fire singers to winter.

"Corn Hut Talk," from Smoke and Steel (1920). Carl Sandburg (1878 – 1967) was inducted into the American Poets Corner in 2018.

Cathedral Christmas

Christmas-time at the Cathedral is truly joyous, and for good reason. We have so much to be thankful for! First and foremost, we give thanks for you, our congregants and community, who sustain us month in and month out. Christmas at the Cathedral includes familiar pleasures, made new every year by the hard work and imagination of many people.

Beginning with the Christmas Concert, on December 8, the whole Cathedral will be full of song for the month to come. Holiday concerts are a time of community and spiritual openness: rousing, solemn, exhilarating and joyous. On Christmas Eve, we offer two special services: Lessons and Carols, at 4 pm, is a family-focused offering, featuring larger-than-life puppets, carols, and the lilting voices of the Cathedral Choristers. At the later Festal Eucharist that evening, more bonhomie and

beautiful music is the order of the hour, with the Dean and Bishop welcoming in the best of the season.

The New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, a longtime Cathedral tradition, extends our hopes for global understanding and compassion into the new year to come. Truly this has been a year when such wishes are of utmost importance—as long as we remember to work to bring them to fruition.

Visit stjohndivine.org or the calendar in this issue for the full schedule of seasonal services!

photo: Isadora Wilkenfeld

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche Bishop of New York

The Right Reverend Clifton Daniel III Dean of the Cathedral

Pentagram Graphic Design

Hannah Eisner Rebecca Merrill Isadora Wilkenfeld Writers

Isadora Wilkenfeld Editor

Newsletter ©2018 by The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

A non-profit institution; contributions and gifts are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Schedule of Daily Liturgical Services

Sunday 8 am Morning Prayer & Holy Eucharist 9 am Holy Eucharist 11 am Choral Eucharist 4 pm Choral Evensong

Monday through Saturday 8 am Morning Prayer 12:15 pm Holy Eucharist 5 pm Evening Prayer

Cathedral Information The Cathedral is open daily from 7:30 am–6 pm For information: (212) 316-7540 stjohndivine.org

Reaching the Cathedral The Cathedral is located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, at 112th Street.

By Subway: #1 Train to 110th Street

By Bus: #M4 to Amsterdam & 110th Street #M11 to Amsterdam & 112th Street #M104 to Broadway & 112th Street



The Community of St. Anselm This fall the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, visited the Cathedral for a very specific reason: to help establish a branch of the Community of Saint Anselm here on the Cathedral Close. Four years ago the Archbishop founded the Community of Saint Anselm at Lambeth Palace, the historic London residence of the Archbishop. The intentional residential community is home to a small group of 21 to 35-year-olds who spend the year together living, praying, studying, and serving in the broader community. These young people come from all of the world and from a diverse array of Christian backgrounds. Members often describe the profound impact of spending a year into the Community, which informs the work they go on to do in both secular and religious fields.

What will such a community look like here at the Cathedral? We spoke to the Reverend Patrick Malloy, Canon for Liturgy and the Arts and Sub Dean of the Cathedral, who is spearheading the planning process. Canon Malloy describes it as a “monastic experiment with a high commitment to justice work“ that aligns closely with the Cathedral’s mission. The members will live on the Close amidst its various programs, residents, and visitors. Unlike the privacy of Lambeth Palace, the Cathedral presents innumerable resources as a public space, and with them, many possibilities for collaboration that have only begun to be imagined.

Given the very nature of the Cathedral’s location, Canon Malloy predicts that the Community will have a profound impact on the city at large. “It could be a real witness to the people of New York, a sign of hope in an increasingly sort of frenetic and what feels like an amoral culture. I think it would have a great impact on the Episcopal Church and Christianity in the United States in general. There’s no place else in the United States that could do it the way we could do it.”


TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS

Unless otherwise noted events do not require tickets or reservations. Tickets for all performances other than free or

“suggested contribution” events may be purchased directly from the Cathedral’s website, stjohndivine.org, or by calling (866) 811-4111.

Your contributions make it possible for the Cathedral to offer the many programs listed below. Please fill out the enclosed envelope.

Please visit the Cathedral’s website, stjohndivine.org, or call the Visitor Center (212) 316-7540 for updates and additional event and tour information.

Don’t forget to become a fan of the Cathedral on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

ONGOING PROGRAMS, TOURS, WORKSHOPS

The Great Organ: Midday Monday

Cathedral organists provide a 30-minute break for mind, body and spirit at 1 pm with an entertaining and informative demonstration of the Cathedral’s unparalleled Great Organ.

The Great Organ: It’s Sunday

The Great Organ: It’s Sunday invites established and emerging organists from across the U.S. and around the world to take their turn at the Great Organ and present a free 5 pm concert.

PUBLIC EDUCATION & VISITOR SERVICES ONGOING TOURS & VISITOR SERVICES

Highlights Tours

Mondays, 11 am–Noon & 2–3 pm Tuesdays–Saturdays, 11 am–Noon & 1 pm–2 pm Explore the many highlights of the Cathedral’s history, architecture, and artwork, from the Great Bronze Doors to the seven Chapels of the Tongues. Learn about the Cathedral’s services, events, and programs that welcome and inspire visitors from around the world. $14 per person, $12 per student/senior. No prior reservation necessary. Meet at Visitor Center.

Vertical Tours

Mondays, 10–11 am Wednesdays & Fridays, Noon–1 pm Saturdays, Noon–1 pm & 2 pm–3 pm On this adventurous, “behind-the-scenes” tour, climb more than 124 feet through spiral staircases to the top of the world’s largest cathedral. Learn stories through stained glass windows and sculpture and study the grand architecture of the Cathedral while standing on a buttress. The tour culminates on the roof with a wonderful view of Manhattan. $20 per person, $18 per student/senior. All participants must be 12 years of age and older and reservations are recommended. For reservations visit the Cathedral website or call (866) 811-4111. Bring a flashlight and bottle of water. Meet at Visitor Center.

NIGHTWATCH

The Nightwatch series offers two exciting and innovative programs: Nightwatch Crossroads Christian and Nightwatch Crossroads Interspiritual. For more information visit stjohndivine.org or contact: (212) 316-7518 / [email protected].

ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN TRUST (ACT)

To learn about the many nurturing year-round programs for young people offered by ACT, please call (212) 316-7530 or visit www.actprograms.org.

Children’s Quest Fund

Help us to invite children from many countries, religions and economic levels under the shadow of the beloved Cathedral. While any amount will help, $1,000 enables a child from a low-income family to participate in a premiere summer camp experience. Please send donations to the Cathedral, designated

“ACT’s Children’s Quest Fund.”

Divine Saturday Celebrations

Celebrate good times with ACT’s new and improved Divine Saturday Celebrations, with a variety of birthday activities for kids to enjoy! It’s a great time for parents and children alike. Speak to a party manager for details at (212) 316-7530.

CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY CARES (CCC)

All programs meet in the CCC office, the Sunday Soup Kitchen or the Cathedral ACT gym unless otherwise specified. Please visit stjohndivine.org for more information on CCC programs.

Nutrition, Health and Clothing Center

The Center hosts monthly HIV testing (in partnership with Care for the Homeless), as well as blood pressure, heart health, diabetes, and other screenings throughout the course of the year. Please visit our website for upcoming screening dates or contact (212) 316-7581, [email protected].

Clothing Closet

Gently used men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing can be donated to the CCC office Monday through Friday 10 am–5 pm. Tax receipts available upon request. Contact: (212) 316-7581, [email protected].

Sunday Soup Kitchen

Every Sunday in the ACT gym. Breakfast, 10 am; Lunch, 12:30 pm. Contact: Robert Finn, Food Program Manager, (212) 316-7579 (T/W/Th after 12 pm).

SNAP/Food Stamps Program

(in partnership with the Human Resources Administration, The Food Bank for New York City, New York City Coalition Against Hunger, and Columbia University-SHOUT) Tuesdays and Wednesdays (by appointment only). Pre-screening and, if eligible, help with online applications and recertification is available. Contact: (212) 316-7581, [email protected].

December

Cathedral Through Time: Celebrating 125 Years!

Saturday, December 8, 10:30 am For over 125 years, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine has been a part of New York City history. From sacred to secular, prayers to performances - it is an architectural wonder driven by a mission to be a house of prayer for all people. Walk through time, recalling the early days of construction (and its history), to discover how its mission of welcome has guided the structure, programming and future of this great cathedral. This tour concludes with a climb up a spiral staircase for a behind-the-scenes view of select architectural features. Led by Cathedral Guide Gene Carlucci. Tickets are $18 per adult, $15 per student/senior.

Cathedral Christmas Concert

Saturday, December 8, 7 pm The Cathedral's annual Christmas concert, a beloved holiday tradition, this year features works by Giovanni Gabrieli, as well as Daniel Pinkham’s incredible Christmas Cantata performed by the combined Cathedral Choirs, Orchesta, and Soloists all under the direction of Kent Tritle and Bryan Zaros. The whole audience is warmly invited to join in singing favorite Christmas carols, led by the choirs and orchestra! Visit stjohndivine.org for tickets.

Close Conversation: Race, Inequality, and Education

Wednesday, December 12, 6:30 pm Join us for a conversation featuring Carla Shedd, Associate Professor of Urban Education at the Graduate Center, CUNY, and R. L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy, Associate Professor of Sociology and Black Studies at the City College of New York.

Textile Treasures: Spotlight on Cathedral Tapestries

Friday, December 14, 1 pm This unique guided tour includes a "behind-the-scenes" visit to the Cathedral's world-renowned Textile Conservation Lab, which conserves tapestries, needlepoint, upholstery, costumes, and other textiles. Particular focus will be the Barberini collection of the Life of Christ tapestries and the Acts of the Apostles tapestries, based on cartoons by Raphael. Must be 12 years of age or older. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students.

Season of Lights: A Winter Workshop

Saturday, December 15, 10 am In this special workshop, children and their families brighten up their winter with a reading of Nancy Luenn’s Celebrations of Light, learning about winter festivities from around the world. After exploring the many sources of light in the Cathedral, including stained glass windows, families are then off to the workshop. Activities include rolling beeswax candles; cutting Chinese and Taiwanese paper lanterns; and sculpting clay candelabras inspired by Hindu floating lamps, Jewish menorahs, and Kwanzaa kinaras. Recommended for children ages 4 – 8 years old. $10 per child, with accompanying adult. Check in at Visitor Center upon arrival.

Within the Walls: Exploring Hidden Spaces

Saturday, December 15, 10 am & 12 pm This extended vertical tour features “behind-the-scenes” climbs in both the eastern and western ends of St. John the Divine. In the east, descend into the unfinished crypt and then ascend Rafael Guastavino’s beautiful spiral staircase to incredible views high above the altar. The western climb presents an amazing view down the entire length of the world’s largest cathedral. Led by Senior Cathedral Guide John Simko. Tickets are $25 per person, $20 per student/senior. Must be 12 years of age or older. Flashlight and bottle of water recommended. Participants are responsible for carrying all belongings throughout the tour. Photography is welcome, though tripod use during the tour is prohibited. If you have concerns regarding claustrophobia, vertigo, or a medical condition, please call (212) 932-7347 before purchasing tickets.

ACT Early Childhood Program Open House

Saturday, December 15, 10 am Come learn about ACT’s 2 and 3 day Nursery Program and Preschool program! Children are welcome to join their families for this open house, provided two adults attend.

Early Music New York: Colonial Christmas

Saturday, December 15, 7:30 pm Ensemble in Residence Early Music New York present stirring 18th-century New England shape-note anthems and hymns heartily sung by the men's vocal ensemble, generously spiked with English country dance tunes played by a lively band of fiddle, flute and bass. Hear and see this special holiday repertoire in the Chapel of St. James. Tickets are also available for performances on December 16, 23, and 25 at 2 pm, and December 25 at 5 pm. Visit stjohndivine.org for more information.

The 39th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration

Thursday, December 20, 7:30 pm Artist in Residence Paul Winter returns for this seasonal favorite! This multi-media event features musicians, vocalists and the 25 dancers and drummers of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. A dazzling extravaganza of music and dance, these performances offer a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals, when people gathered together on the longest night of the year to welcome the return of the sun and the birth of the new year. Tickets also available for performances on Friday, December 21 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 22 at 2 and 7:30 pm.

Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols

Monday, December 24, 4 pm This family-friendly favorite, replete with puppetry, features choral music of Woodward, Wilcocks, Rutter, and Britten, as well as traditional Christmas carols led by the choir. Kent Tritle and Associate Choirmaster Bryan Zaros lead the Choristers. No passes are needed to attend!

Winter events 2018Sunday Services

8 am Morning Prayer & Holy Eucharist 9 am Holy Eucharist 11 am Choral Eucharist 4 pm Choral Evensong

Daily Services

Monday–Saturday 8 am Morning Prayer 12:15 pm Holy Eucharist 5 pm Evening Prayer

SERVICE TIMES

Christmas Eve Festal Eucharist

Monday, December 24, 10 pm Prelude music begins at 10 pm. The Bishop of New York celebrates the Eucharist and preaches. The combined Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra present Mozart’s “Coronation Mass,” Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Trumpets, as well as anthems by Tavener and Adam. This beloved service is open to all. Passes are not needed to attend this service—there is plenty of seating! Visit stjohndivine.org for more information.

With Angels and Archangels: Spotlight on Angelic Images

Saturday, December 29, 10:30 am Discover images of angels in the Cathedral's glass and stone. Learn about the role of angels in the Hebrew, Christian and Islamic scriptures, the angelic hierarchy and how to identify angels by their field marks. The tour concludes with an ascent to the triforium for a birds-eye view of the breathtaking Archangels Window. Participants must be 12 years of age and older for the ascent. Led by Senior Cathedral Guide Tom Fedorek. Tickets are $18 per adult, $15 per student/senior.

New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace

Monday, December 31, 7 pm Founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1984, the annual New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace is a signature and much-beloved Cathedral event. Led by Kent Tritle, Director of Cathedral Music, this year’s concert includes William Boyce’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat. Soloist Sidney Outlaw joins the choir for Robert Convery’s powerful setting of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I have a dream, followed by the New York premiere of Wayne Oquin’s Alleluia. The program will also include music by Mozart, J.S. Bach, and special guests throughout the evening. And of course, the Cathedral Choir’s own Jamet Pittman leads the audience and invites them to join in with This little light of mine as we light candles to welcome the new year with hope, joy, and affirmation. General admission seats are free and open to the public on the night of the show. To purchase reserved tickets, visit stjohndivine.org.

January

Camels and Kings: A Gift Giving Workshop

Saturday, January 5, 10 am Children and their families gather to explore the story surrounding the famous journey of the three wise men, celebrated around the world. The two-hour workshop begins with a story and then children make gift boxes, costumes and sparkling crowns. Recommended for children ages 4 – 8 years old. $10 per child, with accompanying adult. Check in at Visitor Center upon arrival.


Saturday, January 5, 10:30 am Please see details for December 29.

Nightwatch Crossroads: Christian

Friday, January 11, 6:30 pm Nightwatch Crossroads is a Friday evening and overnight spiritual retreat for middle and high school age students, youth groups and their adult chaperones. This Christian-oriented evening focuses primarily on the wisdom teachings of Jesus. Your group will have the opportunity to unplug from the distractions and stresses of daily life to connect with God and one another in the sacred space of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Visit stjohndivine.org for more information and to register.

Brilliant Walls of Light: Spotlight on Stained Glass

Saturday, January 12, 10 am Each window contains a unique style of stained glass drawn from the English, French, and German traditions. Explore the beautiful narrative and geometric windows by modern English and American firms and view the memorial to a stained glass artist. Ascend over 100 feet of spiral stairs for a closer look at windows dedicated to medical and communications achievements. Led by Senior Cathedral Guide John Simko. Participants must be 12 years of age and older for the ascent. $18 per person, $15 per senior/student.


Saturday, January 12, 10:30 am Please see details for December 8.

Great Organ: It’s Sunday – David Briggs

Sunday, January 13, 5 pm David Briggs, Artist in Residence, presents a free performance on the Cathedral’s Great Organ. Visit stjohndivine.org for more program information.

Textile Treasures: Spotlight on Cathedral Tapestries

Friday, January 18, 1 pm Please see details for December 14.


Friday, January 18, 6:30 pm Please see details for January 11.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday

Sunday, January 20, 11 am and 2 pm Join us for the Cathedral’s annual recognition of Dr. King. A guest speaker will join us for the Choral Eucharist service at 11 am; at 2 pm, Alice Parker, founder of Melodious Accord, hosts a Spiritual Sing in the Chapel of St. James. All are invited to participate!

Diocesan Chorister Festival

Saturday, January 26, 9 am – 6 pm Join choristers ages 8 to 18 from around the Diocese and beyond for an exciting day of rehearsal, workshops, games, and tours throughout one of the grandest cathedrals in the world. The day will culminate in a 5 pm Festive Evensong in the Cathedral featuring the combined choirs led by James Litton, Bryan Zaros, and Raymond Nagem. For more information, please contact Associate Choirmaster Bryan Zaros at [email protected].

ACT Summer Camp Tour

Thursday, January 31, 4:30 pm Come learn about ACT’s famous summer camp programs! Visit stjohndivine.org/families/act for more information.

February

Nightwatch Crossroads: Interspiritual

Friday, February 1, 6:30 pm Nightwatch Crossroads: Interspiritual is a Friday evening and overnight spiritual retreat created for youth of all faiths, exploring music, spiritual disciplines, stories and wisdom from a variety of the world’s religious traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity. Visit stjohndivine.org for more information and to register.

Medieval 2.0: Spotlight on Traditions Transformed

Saturday, February 2, 10 am What does New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine share with the great medieval cathedrals of Europe? How does it depart from that tradition? Join Senior Cathedral Guide John Simko for a tour of architecture and stained glass that focuses on St. John’s unique blend of modern New York and medieval Europe. Tickets are $18 per adult and $15 for students and seniors.

Secrets of St. John the Divine: Spotlight on Hidden Images

Saturday, February 2, 10:30 am What are a stripper and the signs of the zodiac doing in our stained glass windows? Find out on this tour that puts the spotlight on surprising images in glass and stone. Led by Senior Cathedral Guide Tom Fedorek. Tickets are $18 per adult and $15 for students and seniors.

ACT Early Childhood Program Open House

Saturday, February 9, 10 am Please see details for December 15.

The Feast of Absalom Jones

Saturday, February 9, 10:30 am Join the Cathedral community and the Diocese of New York for a special Eucharist commemorating Absalom Jones, abolitionist and the first African-American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church of the Unites States.

The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House Without Walls Opening Reception

Thursday, February 14, 6 pm Join us for an opening program and celebration of the Cathedral’s most recent contemporary art exhibition, The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House Without Walls. Visit stjohndivine.org for more information.


Friday, February 15, 6:30 pm Please see details for January 11.


Saturday, February 16, 10:30 am Please see details for December 29.

Medieval Arts Children’s Workshop

Saturday, February 23, 10 am In this signature workshop, children carve a block of limestone, create medieval illuminated letters, design gargoyles, weave, and more! Recommended for children ages 4 – 8 years old. $10 per child, with accompanying adult. Check in at Visitor Center upon arrival.


Saturday, February 23, 10:30 am Please see details for December 8.

Artists and Scholars in Residence & Fellow in Residence The Cathedral’s Artists in Residence program has long played a vital role in the Cathedral’s tradition, ever since it was conceived in the 1970s by the Very Reverend James Parks Morton, then Dean of the Cathedral. The program has featured renowned artists all the way from high wire artist Philippe Petit, most famous for illegally walking a tightrope between the Twin Towers, to dancer Eiko Otake, whose decades of experimental public performances have become part of the Cathedral community in recent years. The residents chosen by the Cathedral are often interdisciplinary artists who infuse their work with activism and a dedication to the many creative possibilities at the Cathedral. Likewise, the Cathedral has continued to grow this program to include scholars and environmentalists as well.

This year, the Right Reverend Clifton Daniel III, Dean of the Cathedral, has appointed two Scholars in Residence, Elaine Pagels and Susan Brind Morrow, as well as a Madeleine L’Engle Fellow, Elizabeth Howard. Elaine Pagels is a Professor of Religion at Princeton University, and her ground-breaking work explores Christianity, Gnosticism, and other faith traditions. Susan Brind Morrow’s scholarship explores the intersection between history and religion, and her most recent book The Dawning Moon of the Mind examines the significance of the Pyramid Texts to the foundation of religious studies. Author and journalist Elizabeth Howard is serving as the inaugural Madeleine L’Engle fellow, named for the beloved children’s author who was a librarian and writer in residence at the Cathedral.

Literature is an art much appreciated at the Cathedral through our active poetry program. The Poet in Residence, currently Marilyn Nelson (2010-present), is responsible for presiding over new inductees into the Poets Corner and organizing the annual Maundy Thursday reading of Dante’s Inferno.

Below is a complete list of participants in our residency program. Visit stjohndivine.org for detailed bios of each person.

David Briggs, Organist Jason Robert Brown, Composer Alessandra Belloni, Musician (i Giullari di Piazza) Judy Collins, Musician Frederick Renz, Musician Paul Winter, Musician (The Paul Winter Consort)

Philippe Petit, High Wire Artist, Juggler & Magician Ralph Lee, Puppeteer (Mettawee River Theatre Company)

Abdel R. Salaam, Choreographer (Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company) Eiko Otake, Dancer & Choreographer

Jean-Claude Marchionni, Sculptor Christopher Pellettieri, Stonecarver Simon Verity, Sculptor Greg Wyatt, Sculptor

Wayne Pearson, Photographer Nicole Toutounji, Beekeeper

Susan Brind Morrow, Scholar Elaine Pagels, Scholar

Elizabeth Howard, Madeleine L’Engle Fellow

photo: Isadora Wilkenfeld

Great Organ: David Briggs

Tuesday, February 26, 7:30 pm Join us as Artist in Residence David Briggs performs his own transcription of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. There will be a ticketed pre-concert talk with wine and canapés at 6:30 pm. For tickets and more information, visit stjohndivine.org.

ACT Summer Camp Tour

Wednesday, February 27, 4:30 pm Please see details for January 31.


a performance by Musica Sacra, featuring the choral repertoire of Bach, Buxtehude, and Scarlatti.

Many readers of this newsletter are no doubt longtime fans of author Madeleine L’Engle, who, for several decades, was the official Cathedral librarian and stalwart fixture of Cathedral life. On October 18, the Cathedral, with Library of America and the Cathedral School, paid homage to L’Engle on her centennial, celebrating the publication of a new two-volume collection of her novels.

The following evening, a coterie of writers, musicians, and actors brought the Cathedral back to the swinging ‘60s for a commemoration of Jack Kerouac’s life and literature. Actors Frank Messina, Michael Shannon, and Kate Arrington provided dramatic readings of excerpts from Kerouac’s writings, backed by legendary musician (and friend of Kerouac) David Amram and his band.

On October 20, all who consider the Cathedral their spiritual home were invited to attend the solemn and joyous ceremony marking the installation of The Right Reverend Clifton Daniel III as tenth Dean of the Cathedral. The Right Rev. Andrew ML Dietsche, Bishop of New York, officially installed the Dean, who has been part of our community as Acting Dean since 2017. The ceremony also recognized Cathedral staff and volunteers, the people who make things go in this joyfully busy place, and reaffirmed our commitments to one another.

The Annual Halloween Extravaganza, on October 26, with Ralph Lee’s Procession of the Ghouls, delighted children and adults and signaled the divide between the colorful and mostly warm first half of autumn and the colder, darker months that commence the holiday season. Continuing the spooky, seasonal mood, Crypt Crawls invited children into the Cathedral’s crypt to hear stories and learn the history of Halloween.

Music and performance, always important facets of Cathedral life, came into full flower in November. November 5 brought celebrated world music ensemble Rose of the Compass back to the GMGS series. Armenia 1918/2018 commemorated the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I and honored the victims of the Armenian genocide, a direct result of the war. The musical repertoire featured colorful and exciting folk songs, as well as original compositions by Gomidas, the father of the Armenian national school of music. On the 13th, Artist in Residence David Briggs performed his own

Looking Back

What can we say about the past several months? Malicious deeds and violence swept the country, in waves almost as tediously regular as they were bitterly painful to witness and experience. Jewish people and houses of worship were violently attacked, most infamously at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, but here in New York City as well. African-Americans, too, were targeted by hate. People of Central and South American descent, both outside and within the United States, were slandered and smeared by those who hold the highest office in this land.

Yet great good came to the Cathedral community as well. We continued to stand for unity, for justice, for equality. We reaffirmed our belief in this institution and in one another and strengthened the ties that bind us as a place of worship, culture, and healing. As has been our charter for over 125 years, we welcome you—all of you—to join us in this sacred space: to recognize and celebrate our similarities and our differences and, together, strive to realize our highest callings.

The Congregation of St. Saviour inaugurated Close Conversations this past fall, a series of discussions on a range of thought-provoking topics, from climate change to poetry. The series continues into December with a conversation between Carla Shedd and R. L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy.

On October 7, the Cathedral celebrated another spectacular Feast of St. Francis and Blessing of the Animals. The Missa Gaia (Earth Mass), composed by Paul Winter and Paul Halley, brought together a massed choir of hundreds of voices under the direction of Kent Tritle. Highlights included gospel singer Theresa Thomason, dance by Forces of Nature, and musical performances by the Paul Winter Consort and the Cathedral Choir. The service concluded with the world famous and beloved Procession of the Animals. This year’s service saw the addition of a number of new technological features: large screens enabled more of the almost 2,500 congregants to see the Crossing; the entirety of the service was also livestreamed on our Facebook page so visitors far away could celebrate the natural world with us. We also had a crew from the BBC filming this year—more information on the program they’re currently editing will be available on our website!

Raymond Nagem, Associate Director of Music, presented the first Great Music in a Great Space concert of the 2018-19 season on October 16. The season continued that month with

photos clockwise from top right: St. Francis Day 2018 (photo: David Rider);

Raymond Nagem (photo: Isadora Wilkenfeld); St. Francis Day congregant (photo: Wayne

Pearson); Celebrating Madeleine L'Engle (photo: Isadora Wilkenfeld); Dean Daniel with

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Cardinal

Timothy Dolan, at the Interfaith Tribute to Tree of Life (photo: courtesy Iva Benson);

Cathedral and Diocesan staff and volunteers (photo: Helena Kubicka de Bragança); Dean

Daniel and Bishop Dietsche (photo: Helena Kubicka de Bragança); Dean Daniel and

grandchildren at his installation (photo: David Rider)

Crafts at the Cathedral ushers in the holiday season each year, bridging as it does the end of November and beginning of December. Christmastime follows quickly on its heels: this year’s annual Cathedral Christmas Concert falls on December 8 and features music by Giovanni Gabrieli as well as Daniel Pinkham’s incredible Christmas Cantanta performed by the combined Cathedral Choirs, Orchesta, and Soloists all under the direction of Kent Tritle and Bryan Zaros. The whole audience is warmly invited to join in singing favorite Christmas carols, led by the choirs and orchestra.

The Congregation of St. Saviour’s Close Conversation series of talks continues into December with “Race, Inequality, and Education” with Carla Shedd, Associate Professor of Urban Education at the CUNY Graduate Center, and L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy, Associate Professor of Sociology and Black Studies at the City College of New York, on the 12th.

Ensemble in Residence Early Music New York returns to the Cathedral on Saturday, December 15 with Colonial Christmas. The series of concerts continues on December 16, 23, and 25 in the Cathedral’s Chapel of St. James, presenting 18th-century New England shape-note anthems and hymns, generously spiked with English country dance tunes.

Paul Winter’s 39th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration, featuring The Paul Winter Consort and the 25 dancers and drummers of the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, will take place December 20, 21, and 22nd. A dazzling extravaganza of music and dance, these performances offer a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals, when people gathered together on the longest night of the year to welcome the return of the sun and the birth of the new year.

On December 24, Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols features the Cathedral Choristers under the direction of Kent Tritle and Associate Choirmaster Bryan Zaros. This family-friendly service uses readings, carols and larger-than-life puppets to tell the Christmas story.

Looking Ahead

The Christmas Eve Festal Eucharist begins with a musical prelude at 10 pm and service at 10:30 pm. The Bishop of New York, The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche, celebrates the Eucharist and preaches. This service is open to all, and passes are not needed to attend—there is plenty of seating available!

Founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1984, the annual New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, December 31, is a signature Cathedral event, gathering old friends and new for more than 30 years. Led by Kent Tritle, this year’s concert includes William Boyce’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat. Soloist Sidney Outlaw joins the choir for Robert Convery’s powerful setting of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I have a dream, followed by the New York premiere of Wayne Oquin’s Alleluia. There is also music by Mozart, J.S. Bach, and special guests throughout the evening. And of course, the Cathedral Choir’s own Jamet Pittman leads the audience and invites them to join in with This little light of minea as we light candles to welcome the new year with hope, joy, and affirmation.

On January 19, the Cathedral joins with the World Music Institute to welcome Riyaaz Qawwali. The performance of qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music, dates back more than 700 years, and the musicians of Riyaaz Qawwali, hail from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, have dedicated themselves to bringing the tradition to new audiences around the world.

January 20 is Martin Luther King Sunday. The 11 am service, in commemoration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will include readings from his speeches and other writings as well as musical selections curated by Director of Music Kent Tritle. Following the service, join us for a communal Spiritual Sing led by Alice Parker, director of Melodious Accord. Parker frequently leads communal sings, workshops, and intensive professional training programs for composers, teachers, and conductors. Of Parker’s work as a leader of group song, one observer remarked, “There is no one who is not a singer when she leads.”

transcription of Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 in A minor, fully demonstrating the Great Organ’s ability (perhaps even greater than a full symphony orchestra) to portray a truly kaleidoscopic sonic palette. On November 19 and 20, another Artist in Residence, movement and dance artist Eiko Otake, prepared her newest work, The Duet Project - Distance is Malleable. Rounding out the month, Cathedral was pleased to partner with National Sawdust and Visionaire on November 26 and 27 for Glass Handel, an immersive opera experience featuring countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, live painting by George Condo, choreography by Tony Award-winner Justin Peck with dancer Patricia Delgado, and videos by directors and artists including Academy Award-winner James Ivory, Pix Talarico, and more.

On November 11, the Cathedral and the Cathedral Poet in Residence Marilyn Nelson welcomed attendees to the Poets Corner induction of Carl Sandburg. Influenced by his own hardscrabble roots, by the boldly American lyricism of Whitman, by the everyday people of Chicago, Sandburg’s poetry honored the common Joe, but never spoke down to or minimized the individuality of his subjects.

November 18 brought another opportunity for us to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future, as we held a Festive Evensong in honor of the 125th anniversary of the laying of our cornerstone. The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, preached, unifying us with his message of love.

As we leave the fall season behind and enter into another winter on the Close, we experienced the joys of Crafts at the Cathedral, once again held under the encompassing roof of the Nave. The love and care that goes into this annual craft show—and, indeed, into all of the events, programs, services, tours, and workshops we offer here year-round—is, in large part, what keeps our community strong. Thank you for joining us—and thank you for making this Cathedral what it is!

The Value of SanctuaryMark your calendars for February 14th, 2019! The Cathedral will be launching The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House without Walls, the latest in its series of contemporary art exhibitions. Building on the themes of past initiatives, beginning with The Value of Water, the art and programs included in this exhibition aim to explore humanity’s search for community, selfhood, and common dignity. The Cathedral will also examine its role as a sanctuary and a house of worship for all people, and it welcomes the many conversations inspired by this exhibition. Please be in touch if you have idea or thoughts on The Value of Sanctuary.

The exhibition will include works by over 40 artists, including Kiki Smith, John Moore, Cynthia Santos-Briones, Baseera Khan, Alisha Wormsley, Eva Petric, and Cathedral Artist in Residence Eiko Otake. A variety of associated programming will accompany the installation, and more details will be available on our website closer to the date.

The Diocesan Chorister Festival, on January 26, brings together young singers from throughout the Diocese and beyond for an exciting day of rehearsals, workshops, games and tours. The day will culminate in a festive Evensong featuring the combined choirs.

The Feast of Absalom Jones, on February 9 this year, is always a celebratory day at the Cathedral: congregants and musical groups from the Diocese will again fill this grand space, honoring the life of Absalom Jones, abolitionist and clergyman (and the first African-American person ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church).

On February 14 (Valentine’s Day!), we invite you to join us for the opening of The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House Without Walls (SEE BOX).

Artist in Residence David Briggs rounds out the late-winter season with a Great Organ recital on February 26, performing his own transcription of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. David Briggs explains his love of this piece in the following words: “Once this amazing score enters your psyche, it is impossible to imagine life without it. The music is constructed using huge, arch-like paragraphs, which mirror exactly the wondrous architecture of our cathedral. Everything is conceived on a monumental scale… This is music of a truly vast soundscape - rarely has music sounded so spacious. You can wander through, enjoying the intricacies of the architecture. Or you can simply bask in the music’s golden light – it seems that each long phrase opens up a new celestial vista.”

photos from left to right: Kent Tritle (photo: Isadora Wilkenfeld); Paul Winter (photo: Ken

Yanagisawa); Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols (photo: Ken Yanagisawa)

photo: Jacob Hessler, Declaration of Inter-Dependence

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Stay in TouchWe welcome your suggestions and thoughts on the newsletter. Please write us at [email protected].

Winterat the Cathedral

2018

The Clothing Closet Gets a Makeover: Thank You, California Closets!

Many of our visitors are familiar with the Sunday Soup Kitchen operated by Cathedral Community Cares, providing healthy breakfasts and lunches to individuals, children, and families in our community. However, you may not know about our equally important Clothing Closet, which distributes emergency clothing to those in need as well as professional garments for individuals returning to the workforce. This year, CCC received generous donations from two companies that have enabled us to expand our outreach through this program. The Clothing Closet space itself underwent a new phase of significant renovation recently, courtesy of California Closets, the premium space-management service. The California Closets credo is “Designing Better Lives,” a motto that extends not only to their products, but to the level of community outreach and service they give back each year. The newly refurbished Clothing Closet is a sight to behold, and we thank our friends for helping make it a more inviting, intuitively laid-out space.

We’d also like to thank Bombas, a company that matches each sale of its high-quality socks to an equivalent donation to homeless shelters, for providing us with comfortable, warm socks for all of the Clothing Closet clients. The little luxuries and necessities—like a comfy pair of socks—can make all the difference when it comes to uplifting someone’s day, week, or even month. Donations to the Clothing Closet are always welcomed! The Closet is staffed solely by volunteers and stocked entirely with donated clothing. The Clothing Closet serves more than 4,500 clients per year, and need is steadily increasing. Gently used casual and business attire can be dropped off at the CCC office Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm. For more information about CCC services, visit stjohndivine.org/social or email [email protected].

CCC staff members Robert Finn, Thomas Perry, Marva Kennedy, and Kalie Kamara at work in the Clothing Closet (photo: Hannah Eisner)

Once upon a time there was a girl named Dulce. She had a mom who was going to get deported. Because of Mr. Trump. He doesn’t want people who don’t have papers for the United States. So on August 17, the mom was going to go to New York City to go to the court. But she didn’t go, because she knew she was going to get sent to Guatemala So she decided to go to a church on August 17 with her three kids named Dulce, Daniela, and David. …Dulce hopes there is great news that her mom gets her papers for the United States. If her mom gets her papers for the United States, Dulce wants to travel everywhere. She wants to travel to Florida to go to Disneyland and she wants more places to go to. Dulce Carvajal is a 10-year-old whose family spent six months living in sanctuary at Holyrood Church after Dulce’s mother, Amanda Morales, was told she was going to be deported to Guatemala. All three of her children—Dulce, Daniela, and David—are US citizens. Rather than leave them at home while fighting the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, Amanda, who did not want to be separated from her children, decided to bring them into sanctuary with her. Carvajal and her family worked closely with artist Cinthya Santos-Briones, whose photography will be installed in the Cathedral's upcoming art exhibition, The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House without Walls.

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